Best Action Camera for Snorkelling

Are you also a snorkelling fan? Purchasing an action camera may be the best decision you will ever make.

Action cameras are such that they allow you to capture the best still shots with crazy stability, such as GoPro cameras, etc.

You will be able to capture shipwrecks underwater, whales and sharks, coral reefs, turtles, and various other aquatic organisms that you might come across since the water bodies are so large.

However, you do need to know what would work as a snorkelling camera since not all action cameras might be great or adjustable to snorkelling.

Along with good battery life and good image stabilization, you need a great photo resolution and a good waterproof casing too.

In this article, I have sorted some cameras that would fit best for snorkelling, keep on reading to know more about it.

What makes for a good action camera for snorkelling?

Before we do shop for an action camera, it is necessary to know what exactly you should look for if buying an action camera:

Waterproof housing – this is a very crucial feature for any camera or device that you decide to take inside water. However, these days there are waterproof casings or pouches made for action cameras or even phones.

But if you can, you must go for a waterproof action camera as its body will be constructed in such a way that it protects the camera even in the water. 

Video and Photo Quality: this is the most important feature as the main aim of buying an action camera is to click good and stable images while being underwater.

Excellent Image Stabilization –  you move so much while snorkelling that you need to have a camera that has very good image stabilization.

Because when you would watch a video of snorkelling without a good and smooth video, you would die of nausea because the video would shake so much. 

Best underwater action camera

Now, to buy the perfect action camera, there must be a camera that fits best for snorkelling underwater.

It must have great video quality as well as great photos.

They should also have great image stabilization as well.

Also, the most important feature is that an action camera for snorkelling should have a waterproof casing and a good battery life. 

Let us draw a comparison of which camera has the best features suitable for snorkelling:

• GoPro Hero9 Black

Maximum frame rate	240fps@1080p
Maximum Battery life	112 mins @4K
Maximum Resolution	20Mp
Image stabilization	HyperSmooth3.0 + boost
Waterproof power	10m/33ft
Price	$400

• DJI Osmo Action:

Maximum frame rate	240fps@1080p
Maximum Battery life	63 mins @4K
Maximum Resolution	12 Mp
Image stabilization	Rocksteady
Waterproof power	11m/36ft
Price	$200

• SJCAM SJ10

Maximum frame rate	60fps@4k
Maximum Battery life	95mins @4K
Maximum Resolution	12 MP
Image stabilization	Supersmooth GYRO
Waterproof power	10m/33ft
Price	$250

• GoPro Hero8 Black63

Maximum frame rate	240fps@1080p
Maximum Battery life	74 mins @4K
Maximum Resolution	12 Mp
Image stabilization	Hypersmooth 2.0 + boost
Waterproof power	10m/33ft
Price	$300

Best cheap underwater camera for snorkelling

If snorkelling isn’t a daily activity to you, buying an extremely expensive camera may be of no use to you then. However, that’s okay because there are some cheap options as well that you can buy instead of a very expensive camera. 

Therefore, the best camera that is cheap to buy for snorkelling with an extra screen facing the front is DJI Osmo Action Camera.

And if you don’t have a specific need for a selfie screen, then you can buy the GoPro Hero8 Black camera.

The cameras are one or more the same as each other. They are both excellent in their way, and you can also get the convenience of an extra screen.

You can make stable videos with great image stabilization and great resolution.

If you want the extra screen camera, buy the DJI Osmo action camera. 

If you want a camera with long-lasting battery life, then you must buy the GoPro Hero8 Black camera, and it also has good stabilization in video.

However, you must know what is important for you and then buy accordingly.

Best GoPro for snorkelling

Some special GoPro that you can use during Snorkelling is GoPro Hero9 Black and GoPro Hero8 Black. 

The GoPro Hero9 Black has a new 5K Image sensor, live video features, a HyperSmooth 3.0 & a Horizon Lock. It also has a removable lens cover with a dual front-facing screen. You can also hindsight records through this camera.

However, can you take it in saltwater?

Can GoPro go in salt water?

Well yes! Saltwater is the same as any water when it comes to devices and snorkelling cameras are made in such a way that they can withstand being splashed by any kind of liquid. 

Salt would not affect the camera as the amount isn’t that much that can affect the camera’s casing.

Tips for first-time underwater photographers

There are several tips that you can follow when you are snorkelling underwater, such as:

• Make sure that the angle you use is a wide-angle which gives a great perspective of the subject as well. Also, get as close to the subject as you can to get a good and clear photo of objects like coral reefs, turtles, etc.

• Always try to use a macro mode i.e., a good close-up of your subject as much as possible. You can go as close as possible to the subject and get a clearer and more zoomed version of the subject.

• Fast autofocus: make sure that the camera you buy has an autofocus that is faster than usual cameras as you will not be able to touch on the focus option yourself when you are inside the water.

• Just make sure that the camera’s autofocusing setting works in poor lighting as well and is fast as well.

• The controls of the camera must be easier to use and must have some buttons or dials that you can press to be able to change certain functions. A touch screen would not be too accessible to use.

• One most underrated features is having a built-in flash in the camera itself. Since you don’t know how the lighting would be underwater, you must have a flashlight so that you can easily use it to get light in your pictures.

• Waterproofing is the no. 1 feature that you must look out for when buying a camera because that is the one thing that will determine if you would be able to take the camera underwater or not.

The Bottom Line

Action cameras have revolutionized in such a way that they have made capturing snorkelling a very easy task. Instead of just remembering the event, you can capture it and relive it further away at any time you want.

You could post it on Instagram or print it out and hang it on your wall, it’s up to you how you want to remember it. 

Therefore,

GoPro cameras are best at capturing photos and videos at maximum resolution and with the best frame rate and image stabilization.

However, if you need a front-facing screen, you can use the DJI Osmo Action camera as it has a front-facing screen or a selfie screen for you to use.

This article might help you buy the perfect camera for snorkelling. 

We hope you have found this post helpful. Good Luck!